Fruit-processing device.



PATENTED JULY 19, 1904,

Gf F. PLEMING. FRUIT PROCESSING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1903.A

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES 4 Patented July 19, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

FRUIT-PROCESSING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. I765,381, dated July19, 1904.

Application filed September 2, 1903.

T a/ZZ whom, it noa/y con/cern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. FLEMING, a

v citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county ofSanta Clara and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Fruit-Processing Devices, of which the following' is aspecification.

My invention relates to a device which is especially designed for thetreatment of dried fruits preparatory to being packed and which deviceis known in the art as a processen In consists of the parts and theconstruction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more -fullydescribed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticaltransverse section on line y, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view of discharge end.Fig. l is a vertical transverse section on line .'13, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa cross-section of feedhopper. Fig. 6 is a partial plan of perforatedshaker.

A represents an inclined cylinder supported on roller-bearings, as 2,and suitably driven by worm -gear or equivalent mechanism, as indicatedat 3. cylinder is closed, except for a central opening through which thefruit to be processed is delivered from hopper 4. The lower fianged endof the cylinder is open and abuts against and has a snug running-jointwith the flanged open end of a stationary section 5, having adischarge-opening 6 in its under side. The section 5 is, in effect, aninverted hopper,l with its inner walls practically continuous with theinner walls of the cylinder.

Steam is admitted at .the lower end of the apparatus through a pipe 7.The cylinder is preferably jacketed to reduce condensation within.

The inner periphery of the cylinder is provided with an annular seriesof longitudinal baffles or lifters 8, by which the fruit as the cylinderis slowly revolved is continually lifted and dropped back into thecylinder and the juices and moisture by condensationrpoured back overthe fruit again and again.

Where the dried fruit to be processed is The upper or feed end of thevSerial No. 171,619. (No model.)

very dry or hard and lusterless, it is often desired to add a certainamountv of water to it to soften it or brighten it up or increase itsweight. This machine is designed to spray the fruit simultaneously withits admission through the hopper into the cylinder. Accordingly thehopper is divided into two compartments ca Z), the latter adapted as awatercontaining reservoir. The fruit is fed into the first one by anysuitable means, as an endless conveyer 9, and such fruit as is deemedinsufficient in moisture is treated to a water application fromcompartment the flow therefrom being regulated by a suitable valve lO.rlhe feed of fruit to the cylinder may be completely cut off by a gate11.

The feed of the fruit and the admission of the steam to the cylinder mayproceed continuously and simultaneously with the rotation of thecylinder, which, with the lifters 8, causes the fruit to be continuallyturned, raised, and dropped, and the juices and moisture fromcondensation will all be mixed and poured over the fruit during itspassage through the cylinder, this added liquid serving to soften orbrighten the fruit in cases where it is desirable and to give it acertain luster which it would otherwise lack. The fruit arriving at thedischarge-opening 6 at the lower end of the cylinder is deposited upon ashaker 12, having a perforated surface. The movements of this shakerwill cause any excess juices or moisture to drip through into a tank 13below. while the now sterilized fruit is delivered from the end of theshaker upon suitable conveyers, whence it is carried to the packers orotherwise disposed of, as desired.

This apparatus is of especial value in the processing of very soft fruitwhich cannot stand the treatment of the ordinary dippers running in hotwater orother liquid. Here the steam may be admitted very hot, and bycutting o the water-supply from compartprocessing dried fruit and thelike, of an inclined, closed, jacketed, revoluble cylinder, a two-parthopper, means for feeding fruit and liquid therefrom into the upper endof the cylinder, a pipe through which steam is admitted into the lowerend of the cylinder, a discharge-opening adjacent the lower end of thecylinder, a shaking perforated receivingtable located below thedischarge and a tank below the table to receive the separated liquid.

3. The combination in an apparatus for processing fruit of a revolubleinclined cylinder, a feed-hopper entering centrallyof the upper head ofthe cylinder, a stationary cylindrical section coaxial with the cylinderand against which the lower open end oi' the latter abuts and into whichit discharges, said section having its outer end closed and having adischarge-opening in its under side, and

a shaking-table below said discharge-opening and receiving the fruittherefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. FLEMING. Witnesses:

F. L. BURRELL, WV. H. STAoY.

